As his senior project, Vale’s Wyatt Currey is holding a dinner Saturday night with proceeds going to the Malheur County Fair. (The Enterprise/John L. Braese)
ONTARIO – Vale High School senior Wyatt Currey has fond memories of attending the Malheur County Fair dressed in a white shirt, standing before the crowd and placing his sheep on show for the judges.
Currey did so well in his younger years, he has two showmanship awards at home.
Currey has now transformed those memories and his hope others will receive the same joy had had into a benefit dinner for the fairgrounds.
Scheduled for Saturday, March 17, the money raised from a dinner and silent auction will help fund a replacement for the sheep show ring, destroyed by last winter’s snow.
The dinner will be held in the commercial building at the fairgrounds starting at 6 p.m. with a silent auction following. Donations are still being accepted for silent auction items. The menu includes tri-tip, salad, vegetable and dessert.
Currey is still accepting donations for the silent auction.
“I showed sheep from 8 years old to 14,” Currey said. “Once I got a summer job, I just didn’t have the time and stopped. I had a lot of fun showing and being at the fair.”
Currey’s donation will be welcome, according to fair manager Lynelle Christiani as insurance did cover the cost of rebuilding but not upgrades or items in the buildings.
The fairgrounds are also liable for a $10,000 deductible.
“The sheep ring is being moved inside Girvin Hall,” said Christiani. “Money from the dinner will go towards the panels needed to hold the sheep show in the new building. We also need portable seating for people to watch.”
Christiani said the act by Currey makes her job worth the time and effort.
“It is the first time every someone has come up and wanted to do this for the fair,” she said. “When he came to the board, I explained to him what he was doing was giving his kids and grandkids the opportunity to have the same memories he has. Every kid in the county should have those memories, the same one Wyatt holds onto.”
Tickets for the dinner are $20 per person or $160 for a table of eight people. The tickets are available at the fair office, CAPS in Vale or by contacting Currey at 541-216-1965.
John L. Braese: [email protected]; 541-473-3377.